Christian Community

Deep and Wide: Hospitality and the Faithful Church
By Steve Clapp, Fred Bernhard, and Ed Bontrager

Within a year of officially joining a congregation, 62% of new members are less active in the church than at the time they joined. Twenty-five percent simply stop coming within the first year of official membership. Evangelism and outreach are important, and growing churches have learned how to practice warm hospitality to new people. But new members don't continue involvement unless they are thoroughly assimilated.

In this new book, you'll learn that the level of hospitality in many congregations just doesn't go deeply enough to connect with people at a level that will keep them coming--and the level of hospitality isn't wide enough to help newer members really feel that the are as much a part of the community of faith as longer-term members.

This book includes guidance on reaching new people, involving them in the initial weeks and months, and truly assimilating them into the life of the church. The book talks frankly about the many ways people can get hurt in the life of the church and offers suggestions for making the church a safer place. The authors also give guidance on how to respond when people have been hurt.

The book includes a study guide and is excellent for individual, small group, or congregation-wide study. This book can make your church a warmer, more hospitable place for new members and long-time members.

$17 each, $9 each for 10 or more copies
Click here to order.

Special Hospitality Resources Package